The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-02-16
How Phil Sheridan Became n Soldier,

1t is a well-known fact that Gen.
Sheridan's parents were people of very
humble circumstances, and that his
father had hard struggle to support
and educate his large family. And it
was necessary for the boys early in life
to seek employment in order that they
might support themselves and assist
their father as much as possible. They
were all unusually bright and industri-
Gus, and were not only willing but
anxious to do all they could.
At the time of which we write the
Lancaster Ohio Congressional Dis
trict, in which old Mr. Sheridan and
his family resided, was represented by
Democrat This member was entitled
to the appointment of cadet at the
West Point Military Academy, as were
all other members under the law. Be
fore he had made selection, however,
two of his constituents, both friends
of his, very wealthy, they concluded
that they would like to have their sons
receive the appointment. and according
ly each started out among his friends
in the district to obtain recommends
tions to the member of Congress for
the appointment of his son. The men
were both well liked, and, as a conse-
quence, through their determ ned
efforts, almost all of the people in the
district had taken sides. and the Con-
gresham was pressed upon all sides
to appoint one or the other. He was
in a dilemma; to appoint either would
bring the enmity of the other and all
his friends. He concluded he would adj
wise with Thomas Ewing, one of Ohio's
greatest men, who was then a Sena-
tor and resided in the town of Lancaster.
Accordingly he went to the 81 majors
house and explained the situation to
him.
After thinking the matter over for a
moment, the Senator said: "If l were
in your place | would not appoint
either of those boys. L would select
some poor mans son and send him (;
each of these men and his friends would
be glad that you did not appoint the
others son, and the whole people of
the district would applaud you for
sending a poor boy" "That's a capital
ideal" remarked the now delighted
member as he saw way out of the
difficulty; "but where is there a boy L
can send?" Just then old Mr.. Sheri-
dan, who was employed by Senator
Ewing, walked into the dining-room
where the two were sitting, with some
stove wood in his arms. There" sal d
the Senator, ais Mr.. Sheridan; he has
some bright boys, and you couldn't do
better than to send one of them" In
the meantime Sheridan had deposited
his wood in the box behind the stove
and was going out of the room. "Sher-
idan," said the Senator, show would
you like to have one of your boys go to
West Point 2" Il don't know, sir" re-
piled Sheridan; Il never thought OF
that, and you know better about it than
/ do. would leave it all to you, sir. "
"Well," said the Senator, "if either was
to be sent, which would you prefer to
have go?" Il don't know about that
either, sir. If it's for books you want
him, you had better send Mike; but il
it's for fighting you want him, you had
better send Phil" And Sheridan went
his way. "There," said the Senator to
the Congressman, "there's your chance.
It's for fighting you want him. now
send Phil Sheridan. And he did,
Inter Ocean.